The Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has called for greater collaboration to ensure the protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure (CNAI).
The state commandant, Keshinro Adedotun, made the call at the State-Level Coordination Meeting on the Protection of CNAI, held at the IHS office in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The summit formed part of the implementation framework of the 2024 CNAI National Protection Policy and Strategy (NPPS), endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Adedotun explained that the summit was convened at the directive of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which tasked the Corps to join forces in safeguarding assets that underpin the safety, stability, and economic well-being of the nation.
He emphasised that Lagos hosts some of the most critical assets: seaports and airports, energy facilities, telecommunications hubs, financial institutions, and major transport corridors, making the state both a strength to the nation and a prime target for hostile actors.
Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer at IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla, welcomed all stakeholders to the IHS facility, commending participating agencies and services for their commitment.
He urged participants to view the roundtable meeting as an opportunity to proffer solutions to ensure the protection of critical national assets and infrastructure across the country.
According to him, the notion of critical national information infrastructure had been a long-standing demand from various industries, particularly the telecommunications sector, which had suffered significant losses over the years.
He added that the Critical National Information Infrastructure Executive Order had galvanised enforcement agencies to collaborate in protecting the nation’s assets.
“A lot of investment has gone into acquiring equipment over the years. IHS, for one, has over 16,000 towers across the country in every local government. Other companies and industry sectors have also invested heavily in equipment and assets. Sadly, we have watched these being vandalised, stolen, or damaged over time.
“So this is a very welcome development where agencies are now stepping forward. It is incumbent on all of us to support them, including communities that benefit from these assets. Once these assets are lost through theft or vandalism, vital services collapse, even ATMs will not function. It is therefore encouraging to see agencies working together to prevent such incidents,” he said.
The event also drew goodwill messages from the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), among others.
Stakeholders and representatives of various agencies commended the NSCDC Lagos Command for convening the meeting and fostering robust engagements aimed at enhancing collaboration and collective action to curb the vandalism of national assets and infrastructure by criminal elements.
Photo and caption: Participants
